The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is seeking the opinions of Rotorua children to help determine its strategy for managing the lakes.

It ran an art and short story writing competition to get younger people's views on the lakes as part of community engagement over a revised strategy for the Rotorua lakes.

Morgan MacCormick and Gisele Howard were winners in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council competition held to learn what children thought about the lakes.

The council's sustainable development manager Kataraina Maki says children are the future guardians of the lakes so it's important to consider their views and opinions.

'The judges were amazed by the large number and high calibre entries,” says Kataraina.

'Although their job was to pick winners they recognised the contribution of each entry.”

More than 130 entries were received from pre-schoolers through to senior secondary school students.

Winners were presented with certificates and vouchers at a prizegiving last week.

'The entries provided interesting and unique insights into what children think about our lakes.

'Short stories and explanations to the artwork touched on the importance of the lakes to Rotorua city and the region for their environmental and historical contributions.”

Katie-Jayne Boardman said, in her winning entry for the writing 13-18 years-old section: 'The lakes make a significant contribution to the overall environmental quality of our region, and a great source of enjoyment for both tourists and locals alike.”

'They hold the Roto of our pepeha,” said Michael Trott, in his entry for the drawing competition for 5-12-years.

All entries are on display at the Rotorua District Library until Friday, November 18.

The competition was the first part of community consultation to develop an updated approach to managing the Rotorua lakes, through the strategy for the lakes of the Rotorua district.

The strategy is a joint document by the Rotorua Te Arawa Lakes Strategy Group, consisting of Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Rotorua District Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Kataraina says the insights provided by youth would be used to help develop the strategy – an overarching policy document that provides a vision for the future of the lakes, with some practical steps to achieve that vision.

It covers issues and goals about protection, use, enjoyment and management of Rotorua's lakes.

Winning Entries

Drawing (under-5) Morgan MacCormick

Drawing (5-12) Grace Kilkelly

Kayla Sargison

Quinn McCarthy (Highly Commended)

Drawing (13-18) Faye Fisher

Writing (5-12) Hannah Everitt

Gisele Howard (Highly Commended)

Writing (13-18) Katie-Jane Boardman

Writing (Te Reo) Miharo Wilson

Best School Effort Ngongotaha School